A POLICE force has been given a clean bill of health over the way it records and investigates allegations of rape.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) today (Tuesday, November 18) publishes a report into Durham Constabulary which found that every rape case recorded as a “no crime” was done so correctly.

HMIC has been investigating the way in which all 43 forces in England and Wales record crime.

Earlier this year, Northumbria Police reopened investigations into 11 rapes wrongly classified as “no crimes” following an HMIC audit, while areas for action were also highlighted in Cleveland and North Yorkshire forces.

The audit of Durham Constabulary found there was no evidence to suggest that officers felt under any pressure to no-crime records or mis-record crime.

The report praised chief officers “strong leadership” and added: “They consider accurate recording to be at the heart of their victim-centred approach to policing which makes extensive use of restorative justice. The use of restorative justice in Durham is both widespread and innovative.”

It went on: “The force has made great strides over the last 18 months in the way that the offence of rape is both recorded and investigated”.

The report did, however, make six recommendations to improve crime recording – five of which have already been acted on.

Welcoming the report, Chief Constable Mike Barton said: “We have been given a clean bill of health when it comes to the recording and investigation of rape, which is absolutely crucial to our mission.

“It is central to the police and crime commissioner Ron Hogg’s crime strategy, and we’ve got to make sure that we take rape seriously and victims of rape know we do.”

Mr Barton accepted there were improvements needed at “at the lower end of crime”.